Game apparatus



(N0 Model.)

BAH. PRATT.

. GAME APPARATUS.

No.568,792. Patented 0ct.6,"1896.

TT'OVRNEY.

.UNITED STATES1 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD II. PRATT, OFJERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY. I

GAM l; APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,792,.dated 0ctober 6,1896. Application filed May 22, 1895. Serial No. 550,170. (No. model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD I-I. PRATT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a game adapted for indoor or outdoor recreation for old and young persons, aording gentle but healthful. exercise and amusement; and my 'invention 'consists in a simple and cheaply-manufactured device which .may be conveniently stored or carried about, the

same having in itself certain novel character1st1es of construction hereinafter set forth,

adapted for use in games in the nature of.

tournament contests as well as for individual practice promotive of` physical benefit.-

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aside-view of the device complete and ready for use. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent series of rings of varying sizes having cords by which` they are adapted to be substituted and attached to the lance in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 6 and 7 are views of the device drawn on a smaller scale than Fig. 1, showing-the modeof operation.

The lance A is constructed of a tapered stick of light wood of convenient size to be held at the buttl by the hand, and its length is such asv to aord quick and easy movement, say, twenty inches.

The rings C D E F Gr,- Whieh are preferably yfivein number, are each provided with cords H of convenient length-say, sixteen incheshaving loops I, and the lance A is` provided with an eye J, located nearly midway of its length, but nearest the point, and any ring may be quickly attached by inserting the loop I through the eye J and casting the loop over l the point K of the lance in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, then allowing the weight of the ring to draw the corddown over the stick, as shown in Fig. 1.

I find it most advantageous to locate the point of attachment J of the cord 1I at a distance from the free end K of the stick slightly exceeding one-half of the length of the cord, and by so locating the eye J the lpossibility of the ring pushing the loop I off from the point being slid off. by its own weight as the stick is pointed downward. l

The rings are preferably constructed of metal land of sizes having about. the propor-` In order to constitute a tournament gamesuitable for anumber of persons, the largest ring is attached to the lance in the manner indicated vand taken by the first player, who makes a specified number of trials, being creditedwith a certain score, according to success. The next' smaller ring is then attached and another specified number of trials ismade by the first player, repeating in the same manner with cach ring down to the smallest, the score. being kept untilI all the rings have been tried. Inthe first instance of failure of the first playerto make any score at all with any-one of the rings the lance is yielded to the second player who repeats the same play, the successive players following until the round is complete, when the scores are compared to determine the winner. One cord may be permanently attached to the lance A and each ring may be attached and detached from the cord in the operation of substituting.

The construction of my invention may be of the stick is prevented when the ring has lbeenpierced by the stick beyond J and is varied, and I do not limit the same to the preoise construction, dimensions, or proportions shown, or to the materials suggested, and the mode of tournament playing may of course be infinitely varied.

I am aware that tilting at suspended rings with lances is a well-known sport, but

IVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a game device, the combination of a stick, a series of rings of varying sizes, a looped cord attached respectively toeaeh ring, said stick being provided with an' eye intermediate tothe length of the stick and ata distance from the point thereof greater than half of the combined length of a cord and the diameter of its attached ring, said eye adapted for 5 passage of the loop of a cord through the same and over the end of the stick, substantially as and for the purposes described.

y MW 

